If you missed Apple’s WWDC15 live stream in past few days, you can watch it here or at the very least, check out the hilarious, Birdman-inspired, opening video featuring Bill Haden. In the meantime, make it super easy on yourself and read our 11 coolest things that will make you actually want to update your Apple operating system.
NB: Apologies to Android-ers, we’re not trying to convert you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDP1e17qDU4

1. Apple Music

For those of us on the edge of our seats about Apple Music, you’ll be happy to know that it’s actually a thing now. Apple Music will allow you to stream everything that’s on iTunes (a fist-pumping moment for Taylor Swift fans) as well as human-curated playlists and song recommendations. Other specs include a 24-hour radio station called Beats 1 streamed from the US and the UK and a music app that will give you suggestions based on other tracks and artists you’ve liked. Apple Music will be available in the US on 30 June for $9.99 USD/month from iTunes on iOS, Windows, and even Android later in the year.

2. Connect – social media for recording artists

One of the other great things about Apple Music is the big opportunity for signed and unsigned artists to put their music forward, thanks to Connect. Essentially, it’s a form of social media which artists can use to connect with their fans and collaborators, allowing them to share thoughts, lyrics, photos, videos and sound bites. It’s a bit like Apple put the ideas behind Instagram, Youtube, Twitter and Soundcloud into a blender and Connect was the delicious end product. Plus, Drake introduced it and you can’t argue with that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HS5bNRBsI4

3. Proactive Siri

In an average week, Siri will take over a billion requests – and on iOS 9, Siri is up to 40% faster and 40% more accurate. But that’s not the best of it. The new update will allow Siri to become more proactive which means you can receive voice reminders based on the time and your location which is a great addition for the time poor and/or forgetful.

4. New search functions

To explain this point, we’re just going to list a bunch of things you can search for: photos, videos, Netflix movies, information within app (e.g. searching for a recipe for brownies will open up a recipe app) and sports schedules. Plus, in spotlight your device will suggest recent contacts, apps or places you might be interested in. Nice.

Siri will show off in the search department too, tell her to find the photos that you took last September in Melbourne at Loves Data’s Analytics Conference and she’ll get them for you, so you’ll spend less time scrolling and more time reminiscing.

5. News replaces the Newsstand App

Similar to the application ‘Flipboard’, News will combine interactive stories with beautiful layouts, photo galleries, animations and videos. It will have breaking stories, articles and posts and a plethora of categories to choose from. Also, as seems to be the trend, News will start personalising the stories it shows you based on what you’ve previously read. Now that’s good news.

6. Suggested playlists

As soon as you plug your headphones in or connect to your car, your iPhone will suggest a recent playlist, podcast or audiobook.

7. Smart calendars

If you add a location to an event in Calendar your iPhone will suggest when you should leave, even taking into account the traffic conditions along the way. In a way, it’s a sad day to wave goodbye to excuses for being late.

8. HomeKit

HomeKit will be able to support new accessories such as home security systems and mechanical blinds. This means you’ll be able to control home devices such as lights or the air conditioning from wherever you are just by talking to Siri on either your iPhone or Apple Watch.

9. Apple Pay

Apple Wallet will be replacing Passbook and you’ll be able to access your credit cards, debit cards and whatever other cards you might need. More exciting than that, Apple Pay was also introduced at the conference, announcing that it will work with all major credit card networks. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like us Aussies will be replacing our wallets quite as quickly as our American friends.

10. Notes

Notes has also been jazzed up to allow you to add camera images to your notes, checklists, copy content from websites or apps, and the ability to draw doodles with your fingers.

Notes

11. Here’s the clincher; more battery life

We left the best until last. With average use, the iPhone 6 battery will last an extra hour with iOS 9.

Did you watch the live stream? Are you excited or critical about the new iOS9 developments? Let us know in the comments below!